| Interesting Items |
When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by
the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of
'empire building' by George Bush.
He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent
many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom
beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in
return is enough to bury those that did not return."
It became very quiet in the room.
Then there was a conference in France where a number of
international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a
break one of the French engineers came back into the room saying "Have you
heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier
to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb
them?"
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: "Our carriers have three
hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear
powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they
have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a
day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea
water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting
victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships.
How many does France have?"
Once again, dead silence.
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included
Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies.
At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of
Officers that included personnel from most of those countries.
Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French
admiral suddenly complained that, 'whereas Europeans learn many languages,
Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it that we always
have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe its because the
Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't
have to speak German.'
You could have heard a pin drop!
the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of
'empire building' by George Bush.
He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent
many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom
beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in
return is enough to bury those that did not return."
It became very quiet in the room.
Then there was a conference in France where a number of
international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a
break one of the French engineers came back into the room saying "Have you
heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier
to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb
them?"
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: "Our carriers have three
hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear
powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they
have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a
day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea
water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting
victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships.
How many does France have?"
Once again, dead silence.
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included
Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies.
At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of
Officers that included personnel from most of those countries.
Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French
admiral suddenly complained that, 'whereas Europeans learn many languages,
Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it that we always
have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe its because the
Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't
have to speak German.'
You could have heard a pin drop!
| Makes you think doesn't it? |
| From American Legion Resolution #169 “I wish there was not a war, and I wish our young people did not have to fight and die. But I cannot wish away evil men like bin Laden and al-Zarqawi. These men are not wayward children who have gone astray; they are not great men who are simply misunderstood. They are cold-blooded killers, and they will kill you, me and everyone we love and hold dear if we do not kill them first. “You cannot reason with these people. You cannot negotiate with them. And this war will not be over until they are dead. That is the ugly, awful and brutal truth … The last thing we need here in Iraq is an exit strategy or some damn time table for withdrawal. Thank God there was no time table for withdrawal after the Battle of the Bulge or Iwo Jima. Thank God there was no exit strategy at Valley Forge. Freedom is not easy, and it comes with a terrible price.” — Col. Brett Wyrick, surgeon deployed in Iraq, 2005 |
Dear God, our father in Heaven, Hear this prayer of a warrior son. Give my eyes a vision keen, to see the things that must be seen. A steady hand I ask of thee, the feel of wind on land or sea. Let me never careless be, of live or limb or liberty. For justice sake a quiet heart, and strength and grace to do my part. To God and country, home and Corp let me be faithful ever more. In his name… Amen |
| Rifleman's Prayer |
| "A Veteran- whether Active Duty, Retired, National Guard or Reserve is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life" That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer under stand it." -Author Unknown- |
| Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs. I'm a Sheepdog. What are you? by Lt.Col Dave Grossman |
To: Jill Edwards, Student, University of Washington
Subject: Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs
Miss Edwards, I read of your student activity regarding the proposed memorial to Colonel Greg Boyington, USMC and a Medal of Honor
winner. I suspect you will receive many angry emails from conservative people like me. You may be too
young to appreciate fully the sacrifices of generations of servicemen and servicewomen, on whose shoulders you and your fellow
students stand.I forgive you for the untutored ways of youth and your naivete. It may be that you are simply a sheep. There's no
dishonor in being a sheep, as long as you know and accept what you are. Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind,
gentle, productive creatures who can only
hurt one another by accident. We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because
most citizens are kind, decent people, not capable of hurting each other except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are
sheep. Then there are the wolves who feed on the sheep without mercy.
Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this
world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety
in denial.
Then there are sheepdogs and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf. If you have no capacity for violence and
you are a healthy productive citizen, you are a sheep.
If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf.
But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior,
someone who is walking the uncharted path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and
walk out unscathed. We know that the sheep live in denial - that is what makes
them sheep.They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why
they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kid's schools. But many of them are outraged at
the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously
injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming
to kill or harm their child is just too hard. So they choose the path of denial. The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a
lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not
ever harm the sheep. Any sheepdog that intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot
work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.
Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell
them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports, in camouflage fatigues, holding an M-16. The sheep
would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint
himself white, and go Baa. That is, until the wolf shows up, and then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely
sheepdog.
The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough, know-it-all high school students, and under ordinary
circumstances would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop.
When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically
peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them.
This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door. Look at what happened after September 11, 2001
when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement
officers and military personnel? Understand that there is nothing morally
superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be.
Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter. He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at
things that go bump in the night and yearning for a righteous battle.That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old
sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed, right along with the young ones. Here is
how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently.The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day.
After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said 'Thank God I wasn't on one of those
planes.' The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, 'Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a
difference.' You want to be able to make a difference. There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does
have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that would destroy 98 percent of
the population.
Research was conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes.
These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast
majority said they specifically targeted victims by body language: Slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose
their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is
least able to protect itself.
Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most
people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.
Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as
you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the
hijacking.When they learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd and the other passengers
confronted the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and
parents - from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an
unknown number of lives on the ground.
Edmund Burke said 'There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men.' Here is the point I want to
emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born
as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves.
They don't have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral
decision. If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand
the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you.
If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or
love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to
dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the
wolf comes knocking at the door.
This business of being a sheep or a sheepdog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of
degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior.
Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America
took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors and the
warriors started taking their job more seriously.
It's OK to be a sheep, but do not kick the sheepdog. Indeed, the sheepdog may just run a little harder, strive to protect a little better
and be fully prepared to pay an ultimate price in battle and spirit with the sheep moving from 'baa' to 'thanks'.
We do not call for gifts or freedoms beyond our lot. Just like the sheepdog, we in the military just need a small pat on the head, a smile
and a thank you to fill the emotional tank which is drained protecting the sheep.
And, when our number is called by The Almighty, and day retreats into night, a small prayer before the heavens just may be in order to
say thanks for letting you continue to be a sheep. And be grateful for the millions of American sheepdogs who permit you the freedom
to express even bad ideas.
Subject: Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs
Miss Edwards, I read of your student activity regarding the proposed memorial to Colonel Greg Boyington, USMC and a Medal of Honor
winner. I suspect you will receive many angry emails from conservative people like me. You may be too
young to appreciate fully the sacrifices of generations of servicemen and servicewomen, on whose shoulders you and your fellow
students stand.I forgive you for the untutored ways of youth and your naivete. It may be that you are simply a sheep. There's no
dishonor in being a sheep, as long as you know and accept what you are. Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind,
gentle, productive creatures who can only
hurt one another by accident. We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because
most citizens are kind, decent people, not capable of hurting each other except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are
sheep. Then there are the wolves who feed on the sheep without mercy.
Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this
world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety
in denial.
Then there are sheepdogs and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf. If you have no capacity for violence and
you are a healthy productive citizen, you are a sheep.
If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf.
But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior,
someone who is walking the uncharted path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and
walk out unscathed. We know that the sheep live in denial - that is what makes
them sheep.They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why
they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kid's schools. But many of them are outraged at
the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously
injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming
to kill or harm their child is just too hard. So they choose the path of denial. The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a
lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not
ever harm the sheep. Any sheepdog that intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot
work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.
Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell
them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports, in camouflage fatigues, holding an M-16. The sheep
would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint
himself white, and go Baa. That is, until the wolf shows up, and then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely
sheepdog.
The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough, know-it-all high school students, and under ordinary
circumstances would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop.
When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically
peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them.
This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door. Look at what happened after September 11, 2001
when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement
officers and military personnel? Understand that there is nothing morally
superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be.
Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter. He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at
things that go bump in the night and yearning for a righteous battle.That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old
sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed, right along with the young ones. Here is
how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently.The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day.
After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said 'Thank God I wasn't on one of those
planes.' The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, 'Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a
difference.' You want to be able to make a difference. There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does
have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that would destroy 98 percent of
the population.
Research was conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes.
These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast
majority said they specifically targeted victims by body language: Slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose
their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is
least able to protect itself.
Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most
people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.
Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as
you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the
hijacking.When they learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd and the other passengers
confronted the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and
parents - from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an
unknown number of lives on the ground.
Edmund Burke said 'There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men.' Here is the point I want to
emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born
as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves.
They don't have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral
decision. If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand
the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you.
If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or
love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to
dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the
wolf comes knocking at the door.
This business of being a sheep or a sheepdog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of
degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior.
Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America
took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors and the
warriors started taking their job more seriously.
It's OK to be a sheep, but do not kick the sheepdog. Indeed, the sheepdog may just run a little harder, strive to protect a little better
and be fully prepared to pay an ultimate price in battle and spirit with the sheep moving from 'baa' to 'thanks'.
We do not call for gifts or freedoms beyond our lot. Just like the sheepdog, we in the military just need a small pat on the head, a smile
and a thank you to fill the emotional tank which is drained protecting the sheep.
And, when our number is called by The Almighty, and day retreats into night, a small prayer before the heavens just may be in order to
say thanks for letting you continue to be a sheep. And be grateful for the millions of American sheepdogs who permit you the freedom
to express even bad ideas.
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| We Remember |